This issue took me into some new territory – or rather very old territory – as I assembled our special section that celebrates the 70th anniversary of NTCA this year. As part of that process, I had a conversation with industry legend Jerry Zakim, who’s been affiliated with NTCA for decades, and was one of the first trainer/presenters to go on the road with Joe Tarver in the old days with the NTCA Workshop. Jerry asked me a question dur- ing our conversation – “Are the young manufacturer reps still get- ting involved and active in the industry?” It took me a moment to reflect on all the activity in the indus- try these days. I told Gerry that there were 70 people at the last Technical Committee Meeting, to much ooh and aahing! It wasn’t until today that I learned that there were actually ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE people at the last NTCA Technical Committee Meeting, which includes NTCA State Ambassadors who have made a commitment to support NTCA activities in their state. Many of these are contractors, though a goodly number are manufacturer reps of NTCA affiliate members. This is encouraging at every level. Manufacturers are willing to engage in dialogue with contractors and other manufacturers. And THINGS GET DONE. Products and methods change. Standards get written. The NTCA Reference Manual expands with more information about more issues that support success for ceramic and stone tile contractors. I wish there was as much involve- ment in our political processes (no matter which side of the aisle you’re on) as there is in our industry. Because when people get involved, things change. There’s a reason that NTCA is coming up on its 1,400th member after 70 years of being a driving force in this indus- try. There’s a reason that NTCA staff has expanded from the initial two in the days when Joe Tarver and Myra Caldwell were wearing all the hats and doing all the work themselves – to SIXTEEN staff members who are currently employed by the NTCA now. There’s a reason that 95 State Ambassadors – and 12 Regional Directors as well as our stellar exec- utive officers – commit themselves to bringing other members into the fold – the education, the network- EDITOR’S LETTER Lesley A. Goddin “Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves – to break our own record, to outstrip our yesterday by our today.” – Stewart B. Johnson 12 TileLetter | September 2017